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Luther College 



"A COLLEGE FOR MEN" 



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'Learning is not All of College Life" 



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DECORAH, IOWA 



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Table of Contents. 

Life at Luther College, 

Student Literary and Social Activities. 

Musical Activities. 

Athletics. 



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Main Building, Luther College. 



Life at Luther College. 

You may have heard the motto "College life is more than college 
learning." That is, that the associations and activities at college 
outside of the school room are more important than the work of the 
school room itself. There is much truth in this, but it hardly does 
full justice to a college. The college is primarily a place of study 
and investigation. And yet, the influence of college life is of im- 
measurable importance and should concern every prospective student. 

For college life, as well as life in general, may be on a high 
level or on a low one, may be good or bad. And college life always 
helps to make habits of living, habits that later in life will make 
or mar one's success. 

Luther College is a school which assures the student the best 
surroundings while pursuing his studies. It is the aim of the college 
to make the life of the institution reflect the Christian principles 
on which the school was founded, and to this end the discipline is 
administered as effectively, though charitably as possible. There is 



an effort on the part of the faculty to see to it that the school work 
can be carried on with only the necessary interruptions. However, 
the discipline is by no means so severe as to deprive the students of 
the diversions within the limits set by the Christian home. Luther 
College is a school to which parents may entrust their boys without 
misgivings. 

Moreover, life at Luther College is of a kind into which the 
average boy. will enter with enthusiasm. There is an intense de- 
mocracy which governs all relations between the students them- 
selves and between the students and the faculty. "Snobbishness" is 
the last thing which a Luther man wishes to be guilty of toward 
a new student. That every new man must be given a fair chance 
to make good is unwritten student law. In addition to this, the 
student body is not so large but that every man may know every 
one of his fellow students intimately. 

Luther College is not co-educational. On the general subject of 
co-education, it is interesting to notice that the three best known 
American schools, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, are all schools 
for boys. The result at Luther is that the life at the college is a 
life particularly for boys. Boys, who spend their formative period 
there, grow to manhood in an environment which is constructed for 
them in particular. Coming from a Christian home, a boy meets 
others with similar training and interests and with them becomes 
a member of the Luther family. And any Luther man will say that 
meeting another Luther man means meeting a true brother. 



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Campus Scene 



Literary and Social Activities. 

Life at Luther College serves the literary and social interests 
of the students. 

Literary societies are maintained by the students and are a large 
item in the college life. Irving was organized in 1884 and has now 
a standing of thirty-six years. Amphictyonic celebrates its thirtieth 
anniversary this year, having been organized in 1890. Membership 
in societies is, of course, voluntary, but the interest in their work is 
so general, that a student seldom fails to become a member of one 
of them. Each society holds twenty weekly meetings during the 
school year. At each meeting a program consisting of literary and 
musical numbers or of debates between individual members is given. 




Amphictyonic Public Program Stage. 



The work of the year is rounded off by a public entertainment in 
which each society tries to exhibit its best work. The popularity 
of these public entertainments is testified to by the large audiences 
which are always present. 

A Debating Association is maintained as an adjunct to the literary 
societies. Society members debate in their own society for the so- 
ciety team. These teams meet in a final debate for the college team. 
The college team is under the control of the Debating Association, 
which arranges meets with other schools. Due to the extended 
influenza quarantine this year it was necessary to cancel the debating 
schedule, but better conditions are hoped for next year. 

The Oratorical Association is not connected with the literary 
societies excepting in an incidental way. Out of the forty or more 
orations usually handed in for the contest, the six or seven best 
orations are picked out by two sets of judges. These orations are 
delivered in public competition for the first prize of $25, which is 
offered annually by the Luther College Club of Southern Wisconsin. 
Second and third prizes are secured from other sources. The winner 



in the local contest is the school's representative in the divisional 
contest. The state contest among the winners in the two divisional 
contest was held at Luther this year. The Luther College Club of 
Southern Wisconsin also offers a prize of $25 for the best oration 
in the Norwegian language. A contest in competition for this prize 
has been held annually excepting last year, when no contests were 
held on account of the interference of the S. A. T. C. with the regular 
school routine. 

"Muspelheim" is the .reading club to which all students are 
eligible for membership. A directory is elected which consults with, 
the Librarian, so that the magazines obtained by each shall not con- f 
flict. Altogether, at>out one hundred and fifteen magazines are re- 
gularly received at the College, besides daily papers' from Chicago, 
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Madison, and Des Moines? These are kept in 
the club room in 'Loyalty Hall and in the reading roorri in the' 
Library. 

The city of Decorah has a large and well appointed opera house 
where there is an opportunity to hear good concerts and be enter- 
tained in other ways. The College has maintained a Lyceum Course 
the last two years, providing entertainment of a wholesome and 
instructive nature. Lectures at the College by prominent graduates 
serve to vary the daily routine. 




Club Room in Loyalty Hall. 



"College Chips" is a student publication issued monthly during 
the school year. Contributions are made by the students and alumni. 
Comments by the editors of exchange publications are proof of the 
high standard to which "Chips" adheres. 

The social life of the students is centered in the dormitories. 
Study rooms are occupied by two or three together. Sleeping rooms 
are separate and accommodate three or more each. 

Such annual affairs as the Freshman-Sophomore and Junior- 
Senior receptions, society banquets, and the social meetings of the 
Luther College Sunday Association are held in the gymnasium and 
in Loyalty Hall. The people of Decorah are cordially hospitable 



to the college students and the connecting links between them are 
numerous. 

Last, but not least, of the organizations which make life pleasant 
at the College is the Boarding Club. Officers of the Club are elected 
by the members from among their own number. Election is held 
each spring. Those elected have complete charge of all matters per- 
taining to the board during their term of office. A report is made 
to the members of the club each month. Board is furnished at abso- 
lute cost. Loyalty Hall, which was erected in 1916 as a dining hall, 
is the property of the Boarding Club and furnishes excellent quarters 
for this important organization. 




Interior of Loyalty Hall. 



Musical Activities. 



Luther College has been particu- 
larly fortunate in the way in which 
it has been able to serve the musical 
interests of her students. 

The Luther College Musical Union 
was organized in 1895 by Professor 
Haldor Hanson, at that time the 
musical director of the College. In 
1905 Professor Carlo A. Sperati was 
called to be the musical director 
and since then all things musical 
have had a steady growth. Professor 
Sperati's work has always been of 
that conscientious character which 
goes out to make things happen in- 
stead of waiting for them to happen 
of themselves. As a result, the 
Musical Union has grown from 
small beginnings to be the most 
prosperous organization at the Col- 
lege. It now owns a complete set 
of high grade instruments numbering upwards of 130 separate pieces, 
valued at $10,000. Besides these there are a number of string 
instruments and a large library consisting of standard music. The 
Musical Union has as its immediate object the installation of a pipe 
organ. in the College Chapel in memory of Olaf Angelo Sperati, 
son of Professor Sperati. The Musical Union set itself this object 




Professor Carlo A. Sperati. 




The Concert Band at t 



as a voluntary tribute to the memory of its most talented member. 
Professor Sperati's efforts have not been confined to assembling 
a collection of instruments. In a musical way the band has been 
most successful under his leadership. In 1906, after being in charge 
only one year, and again in 1911 he was able to make successful 
tours to the Pacific coast. In 1914, when the Norwegian people 
celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of their constitution, the 
band was invited to visit Norway during the festivities and play at 
the exposition. Loyal support of friends at home made this possible,, 
and accordingly the tour was undertaken. Concerts on the way 
over were given in the Auditorium in St. Paul, Orchestra Hall in 
Chicago, Grey's Armory in Cleveland, and in the Brooklyn Academy 
of Music. Newspaper criticisms were on all occasions most grati- 
fying to the director and his young musicians. In Norway, the 
whole country was taken by storm. On all sides were praise and 
hospitality for the American visitors. Every place to which the 
band came put on its festal array for the occasion. So successful 
was the tour in a financial way that every member was given a 
week's vacation in Norway and a trip was taken across the continent 
through Copenhagen, Wittenberg, Wartburg, Berlin, Cologne, Liege, 
Paris, London, and from there to the port of Southampton. 

The return trip through the states followed much the same route 
as before, excepting that Boston was made the farthest east point 
and Fargo the west. 

The next year the band was invited by the management of the 
Panama-Pacific Exposition to play during the fair at San Francisco. 
In spite of the long trip of the year before, a contract was made 
and the engagement filled. The band went out by way of Salt Lake 
City and returned by a northern route after playing in Los Angeles, 
Santa Barbara, and the Puget Sound cities. 




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tma-Pacific Exposition 



Musical Activities. 



Luther College has been particu- 
larly fortunate in the way in which 
it has been able to serve the musical 
interests of her students. 

The Luther College Musical Union 
was organized in 1895 by Professor 
Haldor Hanson, at that time the 
musical director of the College. In 
1905 Professor Carlo A. Sperati was 
called to be the musical director 
and since then all things musical 
have had a steady growth. Professor 
Sperati's work has always been of 
that conscientious character which 
goes out to make things happen in- 
stead of waiting for them to happen 
of themselves. As a result, the 
Musical Union has grown from 
small beginnings to be the most 
prosperous organization at the Col- 
lege. It now owns a complete set 
umbering upwards of 130 separate pieces, 
these there are a number of string 
instruments and a large library consisting of standard music. The 
Musical Union has as its immediate object the installation of a pipe 
organ in the College Chapel in memory of Olaf Angelo Sperati, 
son of Professor Sperati. The Musical Union set itself this object 




Professor Carlo A. Sperati. 



of high grade instruments r 
valued at $10,000. Beside; 



as a voluntary tribute to the memory of its most talented member. 

Professor Sperati's efforts have not been confined to assembling 
a collection of instruments. In a musical way the band has been 
most successful under his leadership. In 1906, after being in charge 
only one year, and again in 1911 he was able to make successful 
tours to the Pacific coast. In 1914, when the Norwegian people 
celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of their constitution, the 
band was invited to visit Norway during the festivities and play at 
the exposition. Loyal support of friends at home made this possible, 
and accordingly the tour was undertaken. Concerts on the way 
over were given in the Auditorium in St. Paul, Orchestra Hall in 
Chicago, Grey's Armory in Cleveland, and in the Brooklyn Academy 
of Music. Newspaper criticisms were on all occasions most grati- 
fying to the director and his young musicians. In Norway, the 
whole country was taken by storm. On all sides were praise and 
hospitality for the American visitors. Every place to which the 
band came put on its festal array for the occasion. So successful 
was the tour in a financial way that every member was given a 
week's vacation in Norway and a trip was taken across the continent 
through Copenhagen, Wittenberg, Wartburg, Berlin, Cologne, Liege, 
Paris, London, and from there to the port of Southampton. 

The return trip through the states followed much the same route 
as before, excepting that Boston was made the farthest east point 
and Fargo the west. 

The next year the band was invited by the management of the 
Panama-Pacific Exposition to play during the fair at San Francisco. 
In spite of the long trip of the year before, a contract was made 
and the engagement filled. The band went out by way of Salt Lake 
City and returned by a northern route after playing in Los Angeles, 
Santa Barbara, and the Puget Sound cities. 







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The Concert Band at the Panama-Pacific Exposition 



No tour was made during the following year. However, in 1917 
two engagements were rilled: the first in June for the Union meeting 
of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, and the second for 
the quadricentennial of the Reformation celebration in Milwaukee. 

During 1919 three trips were made. In May the band was 
present at the National Convention of the Young Peoples' League 
and Choral Union at Red Wing and in the fall at the Saint 
Ansgar Circuit Young Peoples' League Convention at Mason City. 
So pleased were the people of Mason City with the band that they 
asked for a return engagement within two weeks of the first in con- 
nection with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Homecoming of Cerro Gordo 
County. A more extensive trip had been planned for the winter of 
1919, but the management was forced to postpone its plans on 
account of the coal shortage and the subsequent influenza epidemic. 
This tour will be made in June of 1920, when the band will play for 
the National Convention and Concert of the Choral Union of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America in the Armory in 
Minneapolis. 

The Concert Band is, of course, the main musical interest of the 
College. It is, however, by no means the only one. Professor 
Sperati conducts, under his personal supervision, both a Second Band 
and a Beginners' Band, so that there is opportunity for those who 
have no knowledge of music to start at the beginning and receive 
expert coaching, with the intention that they shall fit themselves for 
Concert Band work. Practically all Concert Band material is worked 
up from these two organizations. 

Professor Sperati also conducts the Luther College Orchestra 
as a separate organization, and, leading to it, the Beginners' Orchestra. 
For those who wish to study the violin, opportunity is given by 
Mrs. Alma Cutler Brown, who gives regular classes at the College. 
Mrs. Brown is a graduate of the Iowa State Teachers' College and 
was for two years a student at the Royal Conservatory at Berlin. 
Special piano instructions is given by Miss Katherine Hustvedt of 
Decorah. 

For those interested in singing there is the Luther College 
Chorus, which meets regularly under Professor Sperati. There are 
also choirs in each of the two Lutheran churches in the city, which 
draw heavily on the College for their bass and tenor sections. Pro- 
fessor Sperati is in charge of one of these choirs, and Doctor Norlie 
directs the other. 

As a part of the regular school curriculum, courses in the History 
of Music and Music Theory are offered in both the College and 
Preparatory Departments. 

An organization, not directly connected with the College, but 
owing its existence to the Musical Union is the Decorah Choral 
Union. A large number of the College boys belong to the Choral 



Union each year, together with a much larger number of the city 
people. The Choral Union has, as its object, the rendition of some 
standard oratorio or choral work. The concerts are always warmly 
received, and, under Professor Sperati's leadership, furnish excellent 
training in choral singing. The last concert, Haydn's "The Creation/' 
was given in March, 1920. 




From the Norway Tour. Professor Preus and Prime Minister Michelsen 



Athletics. 



Colleges for boys, in nearly all instances, rank high in competi- 
tive athletics. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, West Point and Notre 
Dame are notable examples. 

Life at Luther College lends itself readily to athletic activities. 
The spirit of the school encourages participation in sports as far as 
is consistent with good scholarship. 

The school is justly proud of the record it has established for 
clean and successful athletics during the past thirty years in which 
intercollegiate games have been played. 

The base ball and foot ball fields, the basket ball halls, tennis 
courts, the track, the gymnastic apparatus make each a special 
appeal to the student to come out and try for membership on the 
teams that from season to season seek to uphold the athletic tradi- 
tions of the school. 

Base ball, foot ball, basket ball and tennis teams are maintained 
by both the College and Preparatory departments of the school. 
Track athletics and gymnastic teams by the College department only. 

The two departments have separate playing fields and basket 
ball floors. 

A physical director, together with competent assistants in the 



-various forms of athletics supported, supervises the training of 
the men. 

Sufficient coaching talent is provided to give each playing field 
the necessary skilled supervision. 

Luther College has established athletic relations with a great 
number of the well known colleges in the West. From time to 
time games have been scheduled with the following institutions: 
Wisconsin University, Ripon, Marquette, Campion, La Crosse Normal, 
State University of Iowa, Grinnell, Cornell, Ames, Drake, Coe 
Upper Iowa, University of Dubuque, Dubuque College, Morning- 
side, Highland Park, State Teachers, Iowa Wesleyan, Leander 
Clark, Lenox, Wartburg, State University of Minnesota, St. Olaf, 
Minnesota Agricultural College, Carleton, Hamline, St. Thomas, 
Concordia, Macalester, Gustavus Adolphus, St. John, St.' Mary, 
Winona Normal, Shattuck, University of Nebraska, University of 
North Dakota, and North Dakota Agricultural College. 




Gymnasium, Luther College. 



Base Ball. 

While base ball has been played at Luther since the very early 
days of the school, the first intercollegiate games date from the 
year 1891. The season of 1893, which was unbroken by defeat, 
established a reputation for the school in this branch that has since 
that time been upheld with remarkable succcess. The Outing Maga- 
zine for May, 1901, after mentioning the ball teams of Illinois, North- 
western, Chicago, Michigan, Beloit, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Notre 
Dame, contains the following: ''Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, 
whose record for pure class athletics is enviable, has one of the 
best ball nines in the West." 

What was said at that time applies equally as well today. 



The record of games won and lost with the following repre- 
sentative colleges is as follows: 

Luther 6; Minnesota 3, and 2 tie games. 

Luther 1; Wisconsin 1. 

Luther 3; Nebraska 3. 

Luther 6; Iowa 7. 

Luther 23; St. Olaf 9, and 1 tie game. 

Luther 11; Carleton 3, and 1 tie game. 

Luther 17; Upper Iowa 14. 

Luther 9; Grinnell 4. 

Luther 4; Cornell 4. 

Luther 3, Dubuque College 2. 

Total number of games played 184; Luther won 110, lost 70 
and tied 4. 

In the spring of 1919 the Luther team won nine out of eleven 
games played. Prospects for the spring of 1920 seem bright with 
seven veteran players out as candidates for the team. At the present 
writing two of the most important games have been played, both, 
resulting in victories for Luther. 

Foot Ball. 

Intercollegiate foot ball was first played at Luther in 1892. In 
1897 at the request of the Board of Control intercollegiate foot ball 
was discontinued. 

In 1919 foot bait was resumed. Coach Walter Jewell was secured 
as coach and in spite of the fact that the game was new to nearly 
every one of the players a creditable beginning was made. 

The possibilities for the future were apparent when it was found' 
that the average weight of the eleven was. 181 pounds. 

The coming school year will see practically a veteran team on. 
the field. 

At the present writing spring foot ball practice is being taken, 
by a large squad of candidates. 






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Foot Ball Team, 1919—20. 



Basket Ball. 

Basket ball teams have been maintained since the school year 
1904—05. 

Due to the great interest taken in the game, strong College and 
Preparatory teams have been developed nearly every year. While 
in the Tri-State Conference the basket ball championship was won 
by Luther in 1917. 

Luther's basket ball record with the following nine representative 
colleges is as follows: 

Luther 15; Upper Iowa 5. 

Luther 14; St. Olaf 10. 

Luther 0; Iowa University 3. 

Luther 6; Gustav Adolphus 3. 

Luther 1; Carleton 7. 

Luther 1; Morningside 0. 

Luther 8; Lenox 0. 

Luther 1; Ripon 0. 

Luther 3; Coe 0. 

Total games played with colleges 123; won 81, lost 42. 

Track. 

Track athletics was first introduced in 1901. Intercollegiate 
meets were held for a number of years and then discontinued. 

In the spring of 1920 over fifty candidates came out for track 
work. Several meets have been arranged for, and representatives of 
the school have been entered in the Tri-State meet to be held in 
Fargo, North Dakota, and the Drake meet in Des Moines. 

Track athletics should have a bright future at Luther. Every 
encouragement will be given to bring this about. 

Tennis. 

The season of 1919 was very successful in tennis. Luther won 
seven out of eight meets participated in and lost one other through 
default on account of rain. 

The fact that no member of the 1919 team was lost through 
graduation should insure a strong team for 1920. 

Luther has been fortunate in developing creditable tennis, having 
in recent years held the Iowa state championship in doubles two 
years, in singles three years, and the Minnesota championship in 
doubles one year. 

Turning. 

The first gymnastic meet participated in by Luther took place 
in 1909 when first place was awarded her in the Iowa State meet. 

Including the year 1909 teams have been sent to six state meets. 
First place has been won four times and second place two times. 

State meets have not been held since 1917, but indications are 
that they will soon be resumed. 

Gymnastic teams have, however, been maintained at Luther 
since 1917. This fact should insure a representative team when state 
meets are again held. 

L. Association. 

An association known as the L. Association has as its members 
students who have been awarded the college letter for participation 
in a stated number of intercollegiate contests. 



Athletic Coaches. 

Announcement is made that beginning with the school year 
1920 — 21, a physical director will have general supervision of all 
athletics. 

Mr. Oscar M. Solem, Minnesota 1913, has been appointed foot 
ball coach for the fall of 1920. 

Mr. Arthur Laudell, formerly a pitcher with the Detroit Ameri- 
cans, has for several years been serving as coach in base ball. 

Mr. Alvin Natvig, Luther 1918, served as basket ball coach during 
the past year. 

Mr. Walter Jewell, Iowa 1918, had charge of foot ball in the 
fall of 1919. 

In the Preparatory department Prof. Orlando Qually, Luther 
1918, has coached the foot ball and basket ball teams, and Prof. 
Sigurd Reque, Luther 1903, the base ball team. 




Base Ball Team, 1918—19. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



028 344 376 



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